Corn-husking machine.



No. 637,!94. Patented Nov. l4, I899. MCCLINTOCK YOUNG.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE. (Application filed July 22, 1898.)

7 SheetsSheet (No Model.)

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McCLlNTUCK vouma.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

(Application filed July- 22, 1898. (No Model.)

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No. 637,l94. Patented "N'ov. vl4, I899.

MOGLINTUCK YOUNG.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

'(No Model.) (Application 3M guy 22, 17898.) 7"SheetsSheei 3.

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No. 637,|94. Patented Nov. l4, I899.

McCLlNTOCK YOUNG.

con" HUSKING MACHINE.

7 Shanks-Sheet 4.

(Application filed July 22 1898.) (No Model.)

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No.'637,|94. Patented Nov; I4,- 1899. McCLlNTOCK vouna.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 22, 1898.) (No Model.) [Sheets-Sheet 5.

El /V Patent ed Nov. l4, I899.

No. s37,|94.

(Application filed .m 22, 1893'.

{No Model.)

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No. 637,!94. Patented Nov. l4, I899.

' McCLlNTOCK YOUNG.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 22, 1898.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

MCGLINTOCK YOUNG, OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND.

CORN-HUSKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 637,194, datedNovember 14, 1899.

Application filed July 22, 1898.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MOCLINTOOK YOUNG, of Frederick, county of Frederick,and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement inCorn-Husking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for automatically stripping thehusks from ears of corn, embodying cooperating rotary heads betweenwhich the ears are fed and by which the husks are stripped through theaction of picking devices.

The invention consists in means for posi tively operating the pickingdevices; in means for adjusting the parts to control the action of thepicking devices to meet the varying conditions encountered in practiceas regards the character of the husks, &c.; in mechanism for subjectingthe stripped ears to a cleaning action to remove the silk or otheradhering substances, and in various features of construction more fullydescribed hereinafter and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse verticalsectional elevation of my machine on the line a a of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is arear sectional "elevation of the husking mechanism proper on the line bb of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine,with a portion ofthe feeding-belt omitted. Fig. tis a horizontal longitudinal sectionalelevation on the line 0 c of Fig. 1, with the cleaning mechanismomitted. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, on an enlargedscale, through one of the picking-rolls and adjacent operatingmechanism. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of one of the picking-rolls on anenlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through one of thepicking-rolls, on an enlarged scale, on the line (I d of Fig. 5. Fig.Sis a transverse sectional elevation on the line e e of Fig. 5 as viewedin the direction of the arrow in said figure. Fig. 9 is a transversesectional elevation on the line f f of Fig. 5, looking in the oppositedirection. Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional elevation throughthe cleaning mechanism on the line g g of Fig. 3, looking forward. Fig.11 is a vertical longitudinal section through the bearing of one of thedriving-shafts for the pickingrolls on the line 71. h of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the husking Serial No. 686,621- (No model.)

mechanism comprises pairs of cooperating rotary picking-rolls 1 and 2,Figs. 1 and 3, between which the ears are fed endwise from afeeding-belt 3 at the entrance of the rolls, the husked ears as theyissue from between the picking-rolls being received on a take-off belt 4at the rear of the rolls by which they are delivered to acleaningmechanism 5, acting to remove the silk or other adhering substances.There may be any number of picking-rolls (in the present instance therebeing but two pairs) arranged at different angles around a centralpoint, the rolls of each pair opposing each other and cooperating on theear in such manner as to simultaneously feed the same between themendwise, and through the medium of .pickingdevices cooperating therewithstrip the husks. The rolls of the first pair are fixed, respectively,near the inner ends of rotary shafts 6 and 7, which shafts extend inopposite directions outwardly, the shaft 6 having its outer end mountedin a fixed bearing-head 8, attached to arms 9, loosely encircling ahorizontal longitudinal shaft 10, journaled at its ends in two verticalframe-plates 1'1 and 12, extending upward from a main supportingframe13. The companion shaft 7 has its outer end mounted in a bearing-head14, of similar construction, sustained by arms 15,

loosely encircling a horizontal longitudinal shaft 16, extendingparallel to the shaft 10 and mounted in the two frame-plates. The innerends of the two roll-shafts are mounted, respectively, in bearings 17and 18, sustained 'so as to yield in opposite directions to permit theseparation of the rolls to accommodate ears of varying sizes. Thismovement of the bearings is accomplished by means of a rocking head 19,mounted loosely on a horizontal longitudinal shaft 20, sustained by theframe plates, the head being formed with two side arms 21 and 22 and acentral arm 23. The side arm 21 is connected to the bearing 18 by a link24, jointed to said parts, while the other side arm 22 is connected tothe opposite tral arm and a longitudinal rod 27, and tends to hold thehead yieldingly with the rolls together, so as to yield and separate inthe event of the passage between the rolls of a large ear. From thisdescription it will be observed that the links 2e and 25 are connectedto the bearings of the shafts 6 and 7 at points inward of thepicking-rolls. This I deem of advantage in that the shafts at theirinner ends are given a strong support, the rolls by this constructionbeing maintained in their proper relative positions and the liability oftheir yielding by the bending of the shafts avoided.

Referring to Fig. 5, the rotary picking-rolls consist each of two disks2e and 29, connected together face to face and keyed to the rolldrivingshaft, and each disk has fixed to it the inner ends of two collars 30and 31, which curve outward in opposite directions and have their outeredges formed with a series of teeth 32, this arrangement forming aroller with an inwardly-curved side and, in connection with itscompanion roll, presents an opening through which the ears of corn pass.The concave surface of the roll is formed with longitudinal slots orrecesses 33, extending through each alternate tooth to a level with theouter edges of the disks, and extending in each slot is anabutment-block 34, inclined outward toward the inner end of the shaft.These blocks are fixed at their wider ends each on a plate 35, extendingtransversely of the shaft and grouped around the same and adjustablysecured to the face of the disk 28 by adjusting-screws 36, extendingthrough the inner ends of the plate and into the disk, by whichconstruction the abutment-blocks may be adjusted independentlylongitudinally of the roll for the purpose hereinafter described. Themovement of the blocks is litnited by stops 37, extending from the faceof the disk 28 in position to be engaged by the inner ends of theplates. These abutmentblocks act in connection with a series ofgripping-fingers 38 3!), &c., formed each with an inclined active edge40 and with a sharpened point, and these gripping-fingers atpredetermined titnes are moved longit udinally of the roll into theslots therein, and in connection with the inclined edges of theabutmentblocks grasp the husks and hold them while the ears are advancedby the rotary motion of the rolls, the result being that the husks arestripped from the ears while the latter are moved between the rolls.These fingers are moved into the slots to cooperate with abutment-blockson the adjacent sides of the cooperating rolls and are retracted torelease the husks on the distant sides, and positively andautomatically, by a canrslot 41, Figs. 5 and 8, formed in the outer faceof the bearing-head 8, in which slot a series of frictionrollers 42,journaled on the outer ends of lever 43, travel. The levers are curvedoutward and then inward around the peripheral edge of the head and havetheir inner ends pivoted, as at 44, on a frame 45, fixed to and movablewith the roll-driving shaft. The levers about midway between their endshave jointed to them the outer ends of bars 46,carrying at theiropposite ends the gripping-fingers just described. The cam-groove in thehead extends outward at one point near the periphery of the head halfaround the same and extends inward near the shaft the remainingdistance, the result being that when the shaft is rotated the framecarrying the levers 43 will move with it and will cause thefriction-rollers on the ends of the levers to travel in the catngroove,and they will be moved alternately to and from the center of the head,which action will result in a reciprocating movement of thegripping-fingers longitudinally of the picking-roll into and out of theslots therein. The parts are so arranged that the movement of thegripping-fingers into the slots to grasp the shocks will take place onthe adjacent sides of the cooperating rolls and the retrac tion of thefingers to release the sltucks will take place on the distant sides ofthe rolls. Adjacent to the roll the gripping-fingers pass through slotsin a guiding-plate 48 in order that they will be caused to move parallelto the shaft and cooperate properly with the blocks. The second pair ofpicking-rolls is of identically the same construction as those justdescribed, and the gripping-fingers are operated identically in the samemanner. The outer ends of the inclined shafts carrying these rolls aremounted in bearings of the same form sustained,respectively,on thehorizontal longitudinal shaft 20 before alluded to and a horizontallongitudinal shaft 49, sustained in the frame-plates, and the bearingsfor the inner ends of these inclined shafts are controlled in theirmovements by the rocking head 50, similar in construction and operationto the head before described as controlling the movements of the firstpair of rolls.

The two pairs of picking-rolls are arranged a slight distance apart andat different angles, so that the fingers of the second pair will graspthe sh ucks at points between those where the fingers of the first pairoperate, to the end that the shucks, may be wholly removed from allsides of the ear. The cooperating rolls of eat-h pair are so arrangedthat the teeth on one roll will enter between the teeth on the companionroll. The purpose of this is to permit the rolls to separate from eachother sufficiently to act on larger ears without leaving a space betweenthe edges of the rolls,the interlocking teeth forming stops, as it were,and serving to prevent the escape of the cars from between the ends ofthe two ner ends of driving-shafts 53 and 54, mounted at their outerends, respectively, in bearing-heads 55 and 56, sustained by armsmounted loosely on horizontal longitudinal shafts 57 and 58, sustainedby the frame-plates. The inner ends of the driving-shafts are mounted inbearings 59 and 60, similar to those before described for the shafts ofthe picking-rolls, and the movements of these bearings arecontrolledibya rocking head 61, mounted on a horizontal longitudinalshaft 62, acted on by a spring 63.

The driving-shafts carrying the pickingrolls are rotated to revolve saidrolls and to operate the gripping-fingers, and motion is imparted to thesmooth guide-rolls from a main driving-shaft 64, extending transverselyof the frame in rear of the rear frame-plate and mounted in bearingssustained by the frame. About midway of its length the shaft has fixedto it a vertical beveled gear 65, engaging a beveled gear 66, Fig. 4,fixed to the rear end of the lower horizontal longitudinal shaft 58.Adjacent to this beveled gear the longitudinal shaft has fixed to it alarge pinion 67, from which motion is imparted to-the various horizontallongitudinal shafts by a series of intermeshing pinions 68 69, &c.,fixed, respectively, to said shafts, by which means the adjacentlongitudinal shafts are rotated in opposite directions. From theselongitudinal shafts motion isimparted to the inclined driving-shafts bybeveled gears 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75, fixed, respectively, to thelongitudinal shafts and engaging beveled gears 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, and81, fixed, respectively, to the outer ends of the inclineddriving-shafts beyond the bearing-heads, as a result of whicharrangement the opposing rolls of each pair will be rotated in oppositedirections and rearward at their adjacent sides, thereby feeding theears between them rearward, the husks as they are stripped fallingdownward.

To prevent the falling husks from being caught in the gearing-wheels bywhich motion is imparted from the lower longitudinal shaft to theguide-roll, I propose to fix to the bearing-head of this inclined shafta conical housing 83, Fig. 2, extending upward and around the'shaft andterminating adjacent to the guide-roll.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the gripping-fingersare positively operated by the cam-groove and connectinglevers, and as aresult their action is effective and there is little or no liability ofinterruptions in the operation or of the parts being deranged. It willalso be observed that by reason of the adjustability of theabutment-blocks, in connection with which the inclined edges of thegripping-fingers operate to grasp the husks, the space between theadjacent active faces of said parts may be varied to meet the Varyingconditions encountered in practice as regards the difference inthickness of the husks, the size of the ears, &c. The removal of thesilk or other adhering substances from the stripped cars is effectedbythe cleaning mechanism before alluded to, to which the ears aredelivered by the take-off belt. This mechanism is sustained at thedelivery end of the husking mechanism and comprises alongitudinally-extending trough 84, Figs. 3 and 10, having a bottomprovided with transverse openings formed by slats 85, fixed to the underside of two longitudinal beams 86 and 87, sustained by standards 88 atthe opposite ends of the beams. Beneath this beam is located aro tarybrush 89, extending longitudinally, with its ends mounted in hearings onthe frame and arranged close up against the slats, so that the bristleswill extend upward through the same. When the brush is rotated in thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 10, it will act on the ears transverselyand push them laterally against a vertical conveying-belt 90, by whichthey will be carried along endwise and at the same time be subjected tothe cleaning action of the brush. The bristles on the rotary brush,extending through the transverse openings between the slats, in additionto urging the ears sidewise against the conveyer subjects them to atransverse brushing action, by which the adhering silk is effectuallyremoved. The slats afford a rigid support for the ears as they areadvanced by the belt and prevent them from being jammed by the brush.The conveying-belt passes along the face of the longitudinal beam 86 andaround horizontal driving-pulleys 91 at the ends of the same, and inthis manner forms in efiect one side of the trough.

The rotary brush is driven by a horizontal shaft 92, extending at therear end of the frame and provided with a beveled gear 93, engaging agear 94 on the end of the brushshaft. On its outer end the horizontalshaft 92 has a driving-pulley 95 fixed to it, and is driven by a beltfrom a pulley 97 on the main driving-shaft. The conveyer-belt is drivenby a horizontal shaft 98, located in rear of the shaft 92 and providedwith a beveled gear 99, engaging a beveled gear 100 on a vertical shaft101, connected at its upper end to the belt-pulley. The outer end ofshaft 98 has a pulley 102 fixed to it, driven by a belt 103 from apulley 104 on the main drivingshaft.

The take-off belt between the shucking and cleaning mechanisms is drivenfrom the shaft 92, which is extended beyond the trough, where it isprovided with a pulley 105, connected by a belt 106 to a pulley 107onthe end of a shaft 108, connected to the pulley 109, over which thetake-01f belt passes at its rear end, its opposite end passing over aroll 110, situated at the delivery end of the guide-rolls. The feed-beltat the entrance of the pickingrolls is also driven from the main shaftby a pulley 111, connected by a belt 112 to a pulley 113 on the end of ashaft 114, connected to a pulley 115, over which the feed-belt passes atits front, its opposite end passing over a 4; amt

roll 116, situated at the entrance of the picking-rolls.

It is seen from this description that the main driving-shaft impartsmotion to all the operative parts of the machine, including thefeedbelt, the picking-rolls, the take-off belt, the brush, and theconveyer-belt. It will be understood, of course, that other forms ofdriving devices or gear may be substituted, but I prefer to adopt thearrangement shown and described as being simple and effective.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In acorn-bushing machine the combination with rotary rolls adapted to feedthe ear endwise between them, of gripping devices cooperating with saidrolls to grasp the husks and movable bodily around with the rolls, fixedheads formed each with a camway, levers also movable bodily around withthe rolls operated by the cams, and connections between the levers andgripping devices.

2. In a corn-husking machine the combination with cooperating rotaryrolls adapted to feed the ear endwise between them, of gripping devicescoacting with said rolls to grasp the husks and movable bodily with therolls,

fixed heads provided each with a cam-slot,

frames movable with'the rolls, levers pivoted to the frames and engagingin the cam-slots, and rods connecting the levers with the grippingdevices.

3. In a corn-bushing machine the combination with rotary rolls forfeeding the ear endwise, of cooperating gripping devices to grasp thehusks, fixed heads provided each with a cam-slot, frames movable withthe rolls, levers pivoted at one end to the frames and extending aroundthe edge of the heads and engaging at their other ends in the slots, androds connecting the levers between their ends with the gripping devices.

at. In a corn-bushing machine, the combination with a rotary shaft, of apicking-roller carried thereby, a fixed bearing-head loosely surroundingthe shaft and formed with a camway, a frame fixed to the shaft, a seriesof levers pivoted at one end to the frame and engaging at their oppositeends in the cam-slot, and a series of gripping devices jointed to thelevers.

5. In a corn-husking machine the combination with a rotary roll formedWith abutments, of movable gripping-fingers cooperating with saidabutments, means for moving said fingers, and means for adjusting onepart with relation to the other.

6. In a corn-bushing machine the combination with a rotary roll, oflongitudinally-adjustable abutments sustained thereby, movablegripping-fingers cooperating with said abutments, and means for movingthe grip ping-fingers longitudinally.

7. In a corn-husking machine the combination with opposing rotary rolls,of longitudinally-adjustable abutments sustained thereby and formed ofinclined active faces, and longitudinally-movable gripping-fingerscooperating with said abutments.

8. In a corn-husking machine the combination with opposing rotary rollsmounted to yield one with respect to the other and formed with concavefaces and having on theiredges a series of teeth adapted to interlock,with certain teeth of each roll slotted, of movable gripping-fingersactin gin said slots andadapted to cooperate with said rolls to graspthe husks.

9. In a corn-bushing machine the combination with opposing rotary rollsmounted to yield one with respect to the other and formed with concavesides and having on their edges a series of teeth adapt-ed to interlock,and the alternate teeth of each roll slotted, of movablegripping-fingers acting in said slots and adapted to cooperate with saidrolls to grasp the husks.

10. In a corn-husking machine the combination with opposing cooperatingpickingrolls for feeding the ear endwise between them, of driving-shaftsconnected to said rolls and sustained at their ends in bearingspivotally mounted, bearings at the inner ends of the shafts situatedrespectively inward of the rolls, and means acting on said bearings andtending to hold the shafts yieldingly together; whereby the inner endsof the shafts may separate, and whereby the shafts are given firmsupport on both sides of the rolls.

11. The combination with the trough provided with upright sides and witha bottom consisting of transverse slats with open spaces between them ofa longitudinally-movingconveyer arranged at one side of the trough fromend to end and constituting in effect one wall thereof, a rotary brushextending longitudinally of the trough beneath its bottom with thebristles extending upward into the trough between the slats and meansfor rotating said brush in a direction transversely of the trough;whereby the ears are supported by the slats and simultaneously urgedtoward the conveyer and subjected to a transverse brushing action.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 29th day of June,1898, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

MCCLINTOCK YOUNG.

Witnesses:

EDWIN C. MARKELL, J. MARSHALL MILLER.

